Meghan Markle wealthy pal’s bookshop ‘is reported to council for serving her As Ever wine without a licence’ after duchess used it as promotional pop-up

Eagle-eyed fans accused Meghan Markle’s wealthy friends’ bookshop of selling alcohol without a licence after spotting bottles of wine in promotional shots for an As Ever pop-up.

A photo of a bottle of fizz in a bucket of ice, and some wine in a wooden crate amongst an array of the Duchess’s products sparked claims that they had been a breach of rules – but the situation wasn’t quite as it seemed. 

The duchess announced the launch of the first ‘pop-up store’ for her As Ever brand at the Godmothers bookshop in California earlier this week. 

The shop is just a stone’s throw from her Montecito mansion and is run by her close pals, literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, and cosmetics mogul Victoria Jackson.

Meghan posted several snaps of the pop up on her Instagram on Thursday, showing off an array of As Ever products from fruit spreads and candles to herbal teas and spice kits.

But keen-eyed viewers also spotted what appeared to be an opened bottle of sparkling wine perched in a bucket of ice, while another box seemingly on display contained a trio of As Ever wines.

This prompted several of them to say they had reported the business to the local council over an alleged breach of licensing laws – given Godmothers’ application for an alcohol licence was still pending.

However, a source has since thrown cold water over the theory by insisting the bottle was filled with water and the ice cubes were fake.

The source said the bottle was purely for display purposes and no As Ever wine was served. 

Before the explanation emerged, several people had claimed to have reported the shop to licensing officials who could issue a penalty to the owners if found to be in breach of licensing rules. 

Meghan’s As Ever brand has previously sold a range of products online, however it is the first time any have been available to purchase from a physical store. 

As Ever products had also been available to purchase on the Godmothers website, according to some shoppers, although they no longer appeared to be available at the time of writing. 

Meghan’s most recent beverage brought to market was released in August, though unlike its predecessor the stock has not sold out and is still available to buy on her website. 

The 2024 Napa Valley Rose was launched on August 5 with bottles retailing for $30 each. 

Buyers must purchase either a minimum of three bottles of wine, six for $159 (£119) including a 12 per cent discount, or 12 bottles for $300 (£225), including 17 per cent off.

By contrast, Meghan’s 2023 rosé sold out within an hour when it launched in July.

The 2024 wine is described as evoking the same ‘soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality and a lasting finish’ as the 2023 rosé – but it has packed less of a punch with buyers.

The Daily Mail revealed previously that the 2023 wine used grapes from the Fairwinds estate so Meghan could show her support after the winery was almost destroyed in a devastating wildfire in 2020 which caused $15million worth of damage. 

Napa Valley wine country is in northern California, around 50 miles from San Francisco.

Earlier on Thursday, the royal’s cheerleader Oprah plugged As Ever’s Fruit Spread Gift Box on her annual ‘Favorite Things list’.

To capitalise on Oprah’s endorsement, As Ever was quick to send out a celebratory e-mail with a discount code for 10 per cent off the ‘beloved spreads’ – the first time she’s offered money off her products.

It prompted royal watchers to question the sudden input from Meghan’s pals, with one writing on X: ‘She is not shifting her subpar products, so they are helping her out.’

A second added, ‘Since she couldn’t sell out, she’s stuck staging her rack at a bougie store.’

Hours later, it was revealed that Meghan is to return to acting and will make a cameo as herself in a new film, Close Personal Friends, alongside Lily Collins, Brie Larson and Jack Quaid.

Meghan is best known for her role as Rachel Zane in the hit US TV-drama Suits, but also had Hollywood roles in Horrible Bosses, Get Him To The Greek and Remember Me.

She was also once a ‘briefcase girl’ – one of the models who hold the suitcases full of cash – on the US version of Deal Or No Deal.

Prince Harry is said to be supportive of ‘whatever brings her joy’, but as a source recently told the Daily Mail’s Alison Boshoff, the Sussexes seem to be ‘throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks’.

A return to acting is just the latest career foray for Meghan who has tried her hand at being an entrepreneur, an influencer, a philanthropist, a TV star and a producer – although her big money deal with Netflix was recently downgraded.

Meghan was pictured on set of her new movie on Thursday, wearing a casual white and navy pinstripe shirt, which she paired with elegant white linen trousers, and waved excitedly to a member of the crew.

She added brown sandals and chic sunglasses for the warm weather in Pasadena, making for a relaxed look while filming. She also appeared to be wearing her staple £5,850 Cartier love bracelets and Princess Diana’s Cartier watch. 

Meghan looked delighted as she climbed into a luxurious Range Rover and was swept to a large estate in the hills of Pasadena. 

A source close to the production has insisted that Meghan has been ‘swamped with offers’ for acting work ‘but this one felt right’. 

The gig is with the full support of her husband because he knows acting ‘brings her joy’, the insider said. 

Close Personal Friends follows two couples – one famous and the other, not. 

Little is known yet about the plot, or Meghan’s role, but the couples at the heart of the script meet in Santa Barbara and ‘fast become friends’.

An LA insider told the Daily Mail that executives in Hollywood have been urging her to return to acting given her success in Suits, and the failure of some of her projects since she left the business and married Harry.

‘She’s finally seen sense’, the insider said.

Another Hollywood source told the Daily Mail that this is part of yet another Sussex relaunch. 

‘Meghan’s in fully fledged celebrity mode, that’s all she can cash in on now, being a star with a lifestyle to match,’ they said.

‘Her playing herself in a film cameo is just stunt casting – just like when like Kate Moss played herself in Ab Fab movie’.

Branding it another PR power move as part of yet another wider Sussex relaunch, the insider said of her return to acting: ‘It’s fun and gets people talking. There will be lots more [stunts] in the next few months.’

Mark Borkowski, one of Britain’s leading PR gurus, said the timing of her appearance on set is intriguing given William is in Brazil promoting and celebrating his Earthshot Prize.

‘It’s not just dusting off her craft. It is trying to seize control’, Mr Borkowski said.

‘Andrew has been stripped of all his titles, palace in a mess trying to sanitise it all, and meanwhile Harry and Meghan have faded. When silence sets in someone like Meghan knows when it is time to make a move. 

‘She is a magnet for attention, whether people like or loath her. It’s a reminder she can make headlines without lifting a finger’.

Godmothers bookshop and representatives for the Sussexes have been contacted for comment.